From Gadgets to Gear: A Father's Day Gift Guide

Father's Day is right around the corner, which means it's time to start thinking about the perfect way to show your dad just how much he means to you. If you're planning on buying a gift for Father's Day - and retailers tell us that 87% of you will - don't leave it to the last minute, or you'll probably end up with yet another boring coffee mug or banal pinstripe tie. Whether the dad in your life is into high-tech gadgets, grilling, or sporting gear (or all three), you'll find the perfect gift for him on our Suggestions for Father's Day Gifts.

Gear for the Daddy to Be

Diaper Dude Diaper Bag, $54

For new dads and daddies to be, a diaper bag is a practical gift. The key to making it a perfect gift, though, is finding a bag specifically designed for men - and hip men at that. In other words, no hot pink vinyl or happy little farm animals! The Diaper Dude Diaper Bag more than meets the bill! This sporty little messenger style sack features padded adjustable straps for extra comfort. Inside, the bag has a large open compartment and a zip-closed pouch for diapers. Outside, there are three zip-closed pockets for Dad's wallet, baby's wipes and anything else he'll need easy access to, plus an elasticized bottle pocket and a cool removable cell phone pouch. The Diaper Dude comes in tons of cool color schemes, including the ever-popular Camo with orange piping. You can find the Diaper Dude on sale right now for $54 with free shipping at diaperbags.com .

Bag-Less Diaper Bag: Dad Gear Diaper Vest, $82

If the Dad in your life is just too cool to carry a bag (and you know who wer're talking about), then Dad Gear has the perfect solution: The Dad Gear Diaper Vest . With this wearable diaper bag, no one will ever know that your super hip Dad is toting diapers, wipes and a pacifier or two. The best hand-free fatherhood product on the market features two large interior front pockets, two side bottle pockets, a quick access wipe pocket, and even a super slim changing pad hidden in a lower back pocket. And don't worry: The Dad Gear Diaper Vest didn't forget about Dad's iPod, cell phone, wallet and keys - there are plenty of hidden pockets for these things, too. The vest comes in ultra-thin fleece and your choice of black, charcoal grey, navy blue or orange.

Gadgets, Gadgets, & More Gadgets

Apple iPhone, starting @ $199

Okay, okay, no more diaper bags (or even super cool diaper vests). Now it's time for some hard-core gadgets for your hard-core gadget-loving Dad. Looking for the best of the best? The iPhone is, hands down, the single best gadget. This completely revolutionary phone-cum-PDA-cum-audio player has generated more water-cooler interest and enterprise excitement than any other device in recent years. As the Apple website touts, the iPhone allows you (or Dad) to make phone calls, check your email, browse the web and use your iPod, all with the touch of your finger. And rest assured, despite the nauseati...

Mother's Day Gift Guide 2

Your mom may be green, but that doesn't mean she can't love brown - chocolate, that is! Equita , a division of Oxfam, sells the perfect guilt-free chocolate. It's Certified Fair Trade, bought directly from local cocoa co-operatives for a fair price, and comes in a range of mouth-watering flavors. Our favorite: Belgian dark chocolate with organic Earl Gray tea nibs. Equita also sells fair-tree coffee, tea, rice and more. Gift baskets with chocolate and other free-trade products are available.

When the eco-mama in your life runs out to the store, she probably brings along her own cloth grocery bags. Now she can shed those boring off-white canvas bags in favor of something a bit more eye-catching: b. happybags . These ultra-hip, retro-patterned bags are made in the USA. Each bag holds as much as a standard paper grocery bag, with handles long enough to fit comfortably over mom's shoulder. We especially love the brown and light dottie pattern. Cute and conscientious - now that's a winning combination! $19.95/each.

For the Book-Worm Mommy

If the mom in your life is a voracious reader, then she's probably already read everything written on the subject of parenting. However, these two new(ish) releases aren't your run of the mill parenting books. No angst-filled mea culpas about child-rearing short-comings here - just (shockingly) funny, beautifully crafted and even a little bit poignant. Great beach reading, bathroom reading or anytime-of-the-day reading:

You're Not the Boss of Me: Adventures of a Modern Mom , by Ericka Schickel According to the Las Angeles Times, "Erika Schickel, the author of "You're Not the Boss of Me," is the girlfriend we had in high school and college who was soda-through-the-nose hilarious." While no one might have pegged Schickel as the natural mama type, her book shows that she's the real deal. $10.36 at Amazon.com, with free super saver shippin...

Mother's Day Gift Guide 3

For the Gadget Mommy

"Honey, I Shrunk The Digital Picture Frame!" For the gadget-obsessed mom in your life, Brookstone has the perfect gift: A Digital Key Chain that holds up to 60 full-color photos. The perfect way to take her pictures with her, Brookstone's priced-right key chain features a high-resolution, 1.5" screen with bright images and a wide viewing angle. Pictures of all of Mom's favorite people can be easily and quickly uploaded with the included USB cord. Rechargable battery lasts up to 2 hours. $39.95.

Help mom turn down the CD clutter and turn up the volume on her favorite music with the ever-popular iPod nano . The 4 GB and 8 GB models are thinner than ever, with new video playing features and screen brightness, too. The iPod nano also now comes in a host of fun colors, including our personal favorite: Tiffany Box Blue. $149 and up.

If mom's already got her MP3 player, then how about an iTunes gift card ? The perfect way to let her be in charge of the music selection for once, the gift card comes in $15, $25 and $50 denominations.

For Bling-Bling Mommies

There's a good reason jewelry is the most popular Mother's Day gift: there's no mom out there that doesn't love a little bauble... or even some full-on bling! If you're not sure where to start, go classic - a mother's ring (or bracelet or necklace). We've got three great selections, so you can match the gift to her style sensibility (and your budget).

For the traditional mom, a simple, sparkly pendant necklace like this sterling silver one from RedEnvelope.com is the perfect way to show off her favorite gems: Her kids! The pendant is specially made to feature up to four gems, one for each of her children. Precious gemstones (or semi-precious, if that's your preference) are channel set in the order requested. Prices range from $125 - $1,480, depending on the number and quality of stones chosen.

No, it's not a traditional mother's bracelet, but Lucina 's gorgeous pieces are the perfect gift for a mom with a big heart - so big that she cares not only about her own family, but also about struggling families around the world. Lucina's exquisite jewelry is made with fair trade-imported and ethically-sourced gems, sliver and other materials - a practice that creates economic opportunities in war-torn communities around the world. It's almost impossible to choose a Lucina favorite, since one piece is more breathtaking than the next, but we especially love the Women to Women International collection. This stunning Nadia Bracelet in purple is especially stunning. Prices start from under $100.

For a mother's ring, we love the classic, crisp lines of a stackable gem ring , like the sterling silver ones on sale right now at Sorella. These stunning rings are custom-made, which takes 2-3 weeks - so if a gem ring (precious or semi-precious, depending on your budget) is on your gift list, order it now for guaranteed Mother's...

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